Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat

Head out of Barcelona in almost every direction and you will encounter the belt of industry that circles the city. The container port, chemical plants, factories, hypermarkets, converging motorways and airport must be crossed before reaching the riches of the Catalan countryside. However, south of the city in the Llobregat river delta, ensnared by all of the above, is an oasis of agriculture in the protected nature park of the Baix Llobregat (pronounced bash-youbraygat). Easily reached from the city by bike or train, here old masia farmhouses and horticulture whisk you away from the hum of traffic and modern life in the background.

Artichokes are king here and those from El Prat, the location of this park, are renowned in Catalonia. The peak harvest had passed and parched fields of dried flowers were generally all that remained, although others were blossoming in time for the next harvest.

Orchards of olives, apples and figs are dotted around the plantations and the intoxicating perfume of the ripening figs combined with being a good distance away from the hum of the traffic gives the feeling of a Mediterranean paradise. This is truly local produce as well and I urge you to look for fruit and vegetables from this region when out making purchases.It’s worth making a trip out here for a walk or cycle, but be warned there is no shade or shelter and the late afternoon July sun was quite punishing. Go armed with a better map than I did also if on two wheels, getting stuck amongst the chemical plants of Zona Franca on the return journey and unable to find any exit that didn’t take me onto a roaring highway slightly took the charm off the trip. But like a good Yorkshire homing pidgeon I got there in the end. Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat – arrive by RENFE to Cornellà, metro to Cornellà-Centre or FGC to Cornellà-Riera